Archive

until 25 March 2018

"Eigensinn"

GEDOK-Artists in the Hamburg Secession

"Women like this subjugate and ultimately degrade the man", wrote the Culture-Analyst Gustav Schiefler about Ida Dehmel (1870-1842), who founded the "Gemeinschaft Deutscher und Österreichischer Künstlerinnenvereine aller Kunstgattungen" - in short GEDOK - 90 years ago. Thereby, she opposed the associations preponderantly dominated by men with an organisation especially dedicated to the integration of female artists and art lovers. Subsequently, it is owed to the "Eigensinn" (obstinacy) of its founder and members, that GEDOK developed into an important supraregional platform. The exhibition shows the considerable diversity of genres, styles and motives of the emancipated artists, forming part of the organisation since its beginnings. Whether New Objectivity, Expressionism or abstract painting – each experimented for herself and found her own use of form. GEDOK-women like Anita Rée (1885–1933), Alma del Banco (1862–1943), Alexandra Povòrina (1885–1963) and Gretchen Wohlwill (1878–1962) from the elite circle of the Hamburg Secession found an often tedious way to oppose conventions and to assert themselves as successful female artists. Showing works from the holdings of the Hamburger Sparkasse and MKG, the exhibition celebrates the anniversary of the organisation, which is continuing to promote and support artists of all branches to this day.